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Involving Younger People and BME Groups
Hi! My name is Leon Sidebottom and I work as a Community Engagement Officer in the Community Engagement Team. I work with ‘hard to reach groups’ which includes young tenants and BME (Black Minority Ethnics) groups to help shape the service that we provide and to encourage and develop their involvement with Berneslai Homes for the benefit of themselves, their homes and communities.
We offer a wide range of methods for our customers to get involved in shaping our service including: completing questionnaires, attending our Customer Panel, local area steering groups and mystery shopping. Even so we really need involvement from under-represented groups so that they have their own voice and input to help shape the service that they receive.
We have developed a variety of projects, forums and modes of engagement to increase and develop our work with younger people. Here is a list of the projects so far:
- Youth Tenant Survey; this was a pilot project where we sent out a survey to all our younger tenants to assess their needs and thoughts on our service.
- Younger Tenants Forum; This forum encourage young people to attend and get involved, make a difference and gain face to face contact with Berneslai Homes officers.
- Junior Warden Scheme; this project is delivered in partnership with local primary schools and a variety of relevant organisations. After a successful pilot the aim now is to take this initiative borough wide to improve community cohesion and the impact of young people within their local community.
- Anti-Social Behaviour Awareness; with the support of Impact Officer Chris Darby we have been going into secondary schools and explaining the consequences of consistently committing anti-social behaviour.
- Younger Persons Funding Pot; This was set up in June 2008 for youth based community groups, clubs etc to apply for grants of up to £500 to be used for trips, activities or equipment.
- Work – Points – Reward Scheme; this was a proposed project that didn’t materialise as planned but did lead to other community initiatives developing in the Kexborough area and with Darton High Pupils which will make up part of their GCSE course work.
- Gypsy & Traveller Fun Day; this was an initiative led by Banardos with a multi-agency delivery. This was planned, with other organisations, including Berneslai Homes to deliver four separate family fun day events on site.
- Young and Expectant Mums Group; we have been working as part of a scheme named Bumps and Babies. This helps young and expectant mums to understand the lettings system and the current situation with Berneslai Homes Properties.
- New Lodge Young Peoples Art Project; I have been working with young people on the New Lodge estate on a camera project to identify what they think is good and bad about the area they live in, where there is planned regeneration and demolition. Their work also resulted in an arts exhibition in the town centre.
If you have any queries about any of these projects, or if you want to know how to get involved with us please phone me on 01226 772733 or e-mail: leonsidebottom@berneslaihomes.co.uk.